Column One: Administrators

The American Association of School Administrators has released a
report that attempts to demystify the relationship between school
boards and superintendents.

The school officials who were surveyed for "Building Better
Board-Administrator Relations'' agreed that boards and superintendents
are forging strong, cooperative relationships in order to design and
implement effective school policies.

But the respondents also said that economic, political, and social
pressures, and a "lack of clarity in their roles,'' threaten to cause
conflicts or misunderstandings between school leaders.

The report was prompted by recent news stories about the departure
of superintendents in several high-profile school districts around the
country. The media attention highlighted the possibility that the
superintendency was becoming a short-term position due to
board-administrator conflicts, the A.A.S.A. said.

While the report notes that the tenure for most superintendents in
urban, rural, and suburban districts is more than six years, the
A.A.S.A. has identified ways that school districts can reduce the
turnover rate by building more effective leadership teams.

Copies of the 128-page report are available for $14.95 each, plus
$3.50 shipping and handling, from the American Association of School
Administrators, Publications Department, 1801 North Moore St.,
Arlington, Va. 22209-9988.

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Meanwhile, a survey released last month by the Illinois Association
of School Boards finds that board members and superintendents in many
school districts around the nation have been slow to initiate
change.

About one-quarter of the 900 board presidents and administrators
surveyed by the association said that budget shortfalls, laws and
regulations, and personal or political agendas are impediments to
change. Superintendents rated personal agendas of board members as the
leading cause of policy gridlock.

Like school officials interviewed for the A.A.S.A. report, board
members said their leadership role had become less clear over the past
five years. They also said they hoped to spend more time focusing on
educational issues and less time on budget and financial matters.

Superintendents indicated that working with students and exercising
leadership are the most rewarding aspects of their jobs; developing
better relations with the board rated as the least rewarding.

Free copies of the survey are available from the Illinois School
Boards Association, Publications Department, 1209 South Fifth St.,
Springfield, Ill. 62703; (217) 528-9688, ext. 108.--J.R.

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